Department
Booth Accounting: Procurement and Contracts
About the Department
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges.
Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment.
Chicago Booth is proud to claim:
-an unmatched faculty.
-degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents.
-a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni.
-strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities.
As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment.
For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu.
Job Summary
The Senior Associate Director of Contracts and Procurement establishes high-level contract strategies and drives implementation of strategic contract opportunities with the most significant impact to Chicago Booth. Responsible for managing critical contractual formation and management, obligations of high risk and visibility. Creates value for Chicago Booth through long-range strategic sourcing by developing strategic acquisition approaches to leverage school-wide buying power to achieve cost savings opportunities, process improvement, compliance and appropriate legal and risk mitigation. Negotiate, manage, and administer commercial contracts in accordance with University policies and procedures, federal, state and local laws and regulations and best business practices.
Responsibilities
- Develops and maintains understanding of current policies, procedures, and regulations, related to procurement and contracting, imposed by the University, city, state and federal governments.
- Reviews supplier and service provider’s contracts and agreements to identify, negotiate and propose appropriate mitigation of legal, financial, and liability risks. Identifies insurance, cost and other business issues contained in the vendor terms and conditions. Identifies ambiguities, inaccurate statements, and omissions of essential terms and conditions. Negotiates final terms and conditions with supplier incorporating input from University Risk Management, Legal Counsel and other University organizations as required. Submits final agreements for execution by senior manager.
- Leverages existing technology and tools to support strategic program goals and performs proactive contract management to include monitoring contractor performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, contract payments, and determining need for contract changes. Identifies and implements new tools and technologies that will increase data reporting and analysis for identification of strategic opportunities and reduce administrative tasks associated with contract management.
- Interprets contract requirements and conveys understanding to departments.
- Identifies opportunities for long-term sustainable savings from reduced consumption strategies, specification change strategies, and supply-base productivity improvements requirements. Negotiates and executes master agreements that will result in improved risk mitigation and reduced pricing and internal administrative costs. Influences client behavior through strategic relationships, communications and outreach.
- Establishes and maintains a close working relationship with University resources to include Purchasing and Payment Services, Legal Counsel, Risk Management and University Research Administration and external resources to include ISM. Utilizes the resources to identify best business practices, lessons learned and industry trends.
- Reviews item specifications for equipment, materials, capital improvements, and services to determine the applicability of the specifications to the procurement needs of the department; analyzes specifications to determine whether they are sufficiently accurate and complete to solicit realistic and responsive offers from suppliers.
- Drafts Statements of Work, Requests for Information (RFI), Requests for Quotations (RFQ), Requests for Proposal (RFP), and evaluation criteria.
- Reviews, evaluates and approves justifications of sole source procurements.
- Analyzes price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine price reasonableness.
- Conducts formal competitive solicitations; identifies vendors to solicit; tabulates, reviews and compares proposals with specifications to verify conformance to specifications; considers the quality of the items and services and the ability of the vendors to meet the demands of the department in order to make an award recommendation.
- Establishes strategic relationships with the supply base; conducts research on market dynamics, cost drivers, supplier business models, and historical spend to drive cost savings through continuous improvement activities and reduce overall purchasing cost.
- Reviews, drafts, and negotiates data use agreements for faculty research and publication.
- Manage a junior level contract reviewer, as may be necessary.
- Assists the Director of Contracts and Procurement in overseeing contracting and procurement for the various Booth campuses and helps ensure adherence to University policies and procedures.
- Assists the Director of Contracts to conduct audits across Booth campuses to determine compliance with University policies and procedures and best practices.
- Develops supplier relationships that capture and leverage the University’s and its affiliates total expenditures in regards to a specific service or commodity with cost effective, innovative solutions for identified audience. Remains abreast of emerging trends and risks.
- Leads strategy and sourcing contract initiatives in the development of contracts for assigned procurement commodities in collaboration with key stakeholders. Conducts agreement formation, review and negotiation to ensure best value. Evaluates and recommends approvals for utilization plans. Works independently with internal and external clients. Uses best practices and in-depth knowledge to review and monitors the goals and objectives of the Finance and Administration department to ensure the monthly, quarterly, and annual goals are achieved.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Juris Doctorate degree with a license to practice law in Illinois.
Experience:
- At least three years of relevant progressive experience in the field of commercial contract negotiation and management within a higher education procurement environment or the corporate department of a law firm.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Technical knowledge to review, negotiate and provide guidance on intellectual property contracts.
- Strong understanding of databases to include use, navigation and construction of databases, as a tool to move an organization from reactive to proactive.
- Demonstrated understanding of e-platform and e-commerce technologies.
- Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, ACCESS and Outlook.
- Knowledgeable of standard legal and insurance concepts, practices, and procedures.
- Knowledgeable with the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), legal terminology of purchase, service and consulting contracts, insurance requirements, and indemnification clause translation.
Preferred Competencies
- Strong process management, organizational and effective time management skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication.
- Excellent analytical, organizational and follow-up skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Self-motivated and problem-solve.
- Exercise independent judgment.
- Produce high quality work.
Working Conditions
- This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Financial Management
Role Impact
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$90,000.00 - $125,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in theBenefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
